One-way elevator system



Jan. 21, 1936. F MlLL- ER ONE-WAY ELEVATOR SYSTEM 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1934 INVENTOR FRANc's .MILLER BY a a ATTORNEY Jan.21,'1936. FMILLER 2,028,620

ONE-WAY ELEVATOR SYSTEM Filed 0G12 24, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvl-:NTOR

FRANCIS MILLER lT-- l ai@ Bm 2l, VF* M|LLER c )NE-wfnf ELEvAToR SYSTEM Filed Oct. 24, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 wr-:NTOR Famcls MILLER ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv 6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in elevator constructions and has more particular reference to a one way elevator system.

The invention has for an object the construction of a one way elevator system which is characterized by an up shaft and a down shaft, each equipped with racks for co--action with traction worms associated with an elevator, and an arrangement for transferring the elevators from the up" shaft to the down shaft and vice versa in one direction.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the construction of each of the shafts with opposed racks of arcuate shapes. in transverse cross sections for co-action with the worms in an emcient manner.

Still further, the invention also contemplates the association of tracks with frames connected with the worms, so that the elevator -is properly guided.

Another one of the objects of this invention is to arrange the transfer of the elevator, or elevators, from the up shaft to the down shaft and vice versa, and to include racks upon which the elevator may travel for facilitating the transfer.

Another one of the objects of this invention is to provide a mechanism, as a modification of this invention, to transfer or move portions which are continuations of the racks to align with the racks in the up and down shafts, and constitute the main parts of the transferring means for the elevator.

Still further, the invention proposes the construction of a device as mentioned which isA simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a one way elevator system constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking in the direction of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. l, but illustrated with a portion thereof broken away to show interior parts.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational View looking in the direction oi line 'l-l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a horizontalsectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.-

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a plan View of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a one way elevator system constructed according to a modification of this invention.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12.

n Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line Ill-I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I5-l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View showing a modiiied form of driving worm.

The one way elevator system, according to this invention, comprises an up shaft l0 and a down shaft Il, see Fig. 1. Each of these shafts is provided with a pair of opposed racks I2 and l2', see Fig. 2. A mechanism is provided for transferring an elevator which travels up the up shaft to the top of the down shaft, and for transferring the elevator from the bottom of the down shaft to the bottom of the "up shaft. The arrangement is such that the elevator (or elevators) may travel continuously.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-9 inclusive, the racks in the up and down shafts are connected by rack curved top and bottorn portions so that the travel of the elevators may be continuous. More specifically, the pair of opposed racks l2 and |72 comprise a pair of spaced vertically opposed annular members, each having vertical portions I2a with laterally directed rack teeth, downward directed or extended rack teeth I2b on the bottom thereof, andV upward directed or extended rack teeth l2c on the top thereof. All of these rack teeth are connected in a continuous fashion as may be readily understood from Fig. 2. At the upper and lower areas of the vertical side rack teeth I2a, the racks twist so that the rack teeth I2c are directed or extended upwards, while the rack teeth lZb are directed or extended downwards.

The top of the rack construction is provided with a removable section I2d and the bottom with a removable section I2e so that the elevators may be removed as hereinafter more fully explained.

A car support frame I3 is arranged between the pair of annular members. This frame comprises a transverse shaft Ilia upon the ends of which there are secured brackets 13b. The shaft I3a and the brackets I3b are rigidly connected as a unit by set screws I4, see Fig. 3. In each of the brackets I3b there is mounted a worm I5, said worms engaging the opposed racks. A means is provided for driving the worms, and in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-9, consists of stationary shafts I5, see Fig. 9, mounted in the brackets and supporting stationary motor cores I'I. These motor cores are within movable elds I8 which are rigidly attached upon interior hollows in the worms I5.

The fields I8 are supplied with electrical current by shoes I9 mounted upon the stationary shafts. The circuit continues to external shoes 2U which engage against a live rail 2l. The details of the circuit will not be given in this specification since it forms no part of the invention. So that the invention may be understood, it is pointed out that the operation of the worms I5 is similar to that of an electric motor, except for the fact that the elds rotate, contrasted with stationary iields and rotating armatures. The live rail 2I extends along the path of motion of the elevator, so there is a continuous supply of current to the driving means.

An elevator car 22 is mounted upon and depends from the shaft I3a. Inner and outer tracks 23 and 24 respectively, are stationarily mounted and act in conjunction with rollers 25 upon the car 22 to properly guide and support the car. Other rollers 26 are mounted upon the brackets I3b and serve to guide and support the car support frame during its travel. More particularly., each of the brackets I 3lu is provided with four rollers arranged in the four corners of a square shape, and these rollers simultaneously engage the adjacent inner faces of the tracks 23 and 24 as may be clearly seen in Fig. 1. These tracks extend completely along the annular rack members so that at all times the car support frame and the car 22 are properly guided.

A feature of the construction is that the car support frames may move from vertical into horizontal positions as they travel around the annular members, while the car 22 will at all times maintain its vertical position. The tracks 23 and 24 are provided with projecting guides for the rollers 25 during the travel of the car in certain positions. More particularly, the tracks 23, near the top, are provided with inward directed guides 28 arranged of varying horizontal cross sectional distances so that at all times the rollers 25 are maintained on a horizontal plane. Various positions of the rollers 25 are indicated by dot and dash lines bearing the reference numerals 25. The guides from opposite sides of the annular member are slightly spaced from each other so that in the extreme top position of the elevator the elevator is free and may be removed when desired by removal of the rack sections I 2d. Attention is called to the fact that this extreme upper position is diametrically below the removable sections I2d of the annular racks. The projecting guide on track 24 ends at 29 and is continued at 2S' so as to allow the car 22 to move laterally as directed by the guides 28.

The tracks 24 are provided with lower guides 30 to maintain the car 22 in the vertical position as the car rounds the bottom of the annular members. These guides 3G are of equal distances in horizontal cross sections to maintain the vertical position of the car. The dot and dash lines 25' illustrate various positions of the rollers 25 to show the way the car is maintained vertically.

In the lowermost position the car may be removed from the annular members since the ends of the guides are spaced from each other. The lowermost position of the rollers 25 is indicated by reference numeral 25a. The uppermost position of the rollers 25 is indicated by reference numeral 251. The projecting guides on tracks 23 are formed with cutout portions 3I to allow the rollers 25 to move, as guided by the guides 30.

Fig. 4 shows very clearly the design of the racks of the annular members along the vertical portions IZa. It should be noted that the racks extend substantially through 180 of the worms. Furthermore, it should be noted that these racks are located turned slightly 30 from the true forward position. In Fig. 5 the teeth portions I2b are clearly shown to be directed upwards so that the worms rest upon, or ride along, the rack teeth.

The car 22 is supported upon the track 23 at the top so that the worms are not interfered with, by the weight of the car, in their rotations.

In Fig. 6 the rack teeth I2e are clearly shown directed or extended downwards and extending over the top of the worms. Thearrangement is such that the car is supported by reason of the rollers 2G from the brackets I3 riding upon the track 24, while the worms I5 push along by reason of engaging the rack teeth.

In Fig. 8 a sectional view is shown to illustrate the manner in which the tracks are supported. Support members 35 are connected with the track 24 and support the track upon a support, such as the wall 36. Other supports 3I serve to support the tracks 23.

The operation of the device will bev readily understood, but it must be borne in mind that the elevator is intended to operate continuously in one direction. For example, it may go up the shaft I D, go around the top to the shaft I I, down the shaft II, and then around the bottom to the shaft I0. In this manner, the operation continues. In all positions of the elevator the car will always be in the vertical position.

In Figs. l0 and 11 a modification of the invention has been disclosed which relates merely to the driving means for the worms. More particularly, small electric motors 40 are mounted upon the brackets I3b of the car support frames. These motors are equipped with worm pinions 4I meshing with worm gears 42 upon shafts 43 supporting the worms I5'. More particularly, instead cf the worms having internal drives, they are provided with external drives. The arrangement is such that the worms I5' are caused to rotate by operation of the motors 40. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form.

In Figs. 12 to 15 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, this embodiment relating to the means by which the cars are moved from the up to the down shaft, and vice versa. According to this arrangement, the up shaft I0' is provided with opposed racks I2iL co-actable with the worms I5 of the car 22. 'I'he worms I5 are mounted on the car support frame I3 from which the car 22 depends. The car support frames are equipped with brackets having the rollers 26 as previously described. The car 22 is provided with the rollers 25. The shaft is also equipped with tracks 23 and 24. These tracks cooperate with the rollers in a similar fashion as previously described relative to the corresponding parts of the preferred form.

In the vicinity of the shaft I0 there is the down shaft Il which is constructed substantially identical to the up shaft, and the corresponding parts may be recognized by the identical reference numerals. Each end of the shafts, I8 and Il', the top and the bottom, is provided with a turn table 50. rll'hese turn tables extend across the shafts and include continuation racks and tracks from the shafts. These continuations are adapted to align with the main corresponding elements in certain positions of rotation of the turn table. The turn table is pro-vided with a ring gear 5| upon its periphery which meshes with a worm 52 adapted to be rotated with a prime mover for the purpose of turning the turn table. The turn table is provided-with a core portion 53 rotative upon a vertical shaft 54, stationarily supported. The turn table is also provided with a bottom support flange 55 resting upon a plurality of rollers 56 so that the turn table is firmly supported. The tracks 23' and 24 are joined by suitable braces 23e and 24, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 6, the shafts I0' and I I' are set 180 from each other so that it is necessary for the turn table to turn this distance in transferring the elevator. At the 90 position there is an extra shaft IIJc of identical construction to the other shafts and is of suitable length for the purpose of taking off and putting on cars into operation, and may be used as a storage shaft for cars.

The worm l5a illustrated in Fig. 16, is provided with roller or ball bearings l 5b to permit smoother operation of the elevator.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A one way elevator construction, comprising a pair of spaced vertically opposed annular members, each having laterally directed rack teeth on the sides thereof, downward directed rack teeth on the bottom, and upward directed rack teeth on the top, and all of said rack teeth continuing in a series, a car support frame between said pair of annular members, worms mounted on said frame and engaging said racks, means for driving said worms, a car depending from said frame, and tracks for guiding said frames to travel along said racks, said annular members having removable sections at the extreme tops and bottoms for the convenient removal of the car.

2. A one way elevator construction, comprising a pair of spaced vertically opposed annular members, ,each having laterally directed rack teeth on the sides thereof, downward directed rack teeth on the bottom, and upward directed rack teeth on the top, and all of said rack teeth continuing in a series, a car support frame between said pair of annular members, worms mounted on said frame and engaging said racks, means for driving said worms, a car depending from said frame, and tracks for guiding said frame to travel along said racks, said car support frame comprising a transverse shaft, and brackets adjustably fixed upon the shaft.

3. A one way elevator construction, comprising a pair of opposed up shaft racks, a pair of opposed down shaft racks in the vicinity of said up shaft racks, a turn table over the tops.

of and below said down shaft and up shaft racks and including rack continuations adapted to be aligned with said racks in certain positions of rotations of said turn table, means for rotating said turn table, a car support frame between the racks of one of said shafts, worms mounted on said frame and engaging the racks of said shaft, means for driving said worms, a car depending from said frame, and tracks for guiding said car in its travel along said racks.

4. A one way elevator construction, comprising a pair of opposed up shaft racks, a pair of opposed down shaft racks in the vicinity of said up shaft racks, a turn table over the tops of and below said down shaft and up shaft racl and including rack continuations adapted to be aligned with said racks in certain positions of rot-ations of said turntable, means for rotating said turn table, a car support frame between the racks of one of said shafts, worms mounted on said frame and engaging the racks of said shaft, means for driving said worms, a car depending from said frame, and tracks for guiding said car in its travel along said racks, said turn table having a support flange resting on a plurality of support rollers.

5. A one way elevator construction, comprising a pair of opposed up shaft racks, a pair of opposed down shaft racks in the vicinity of said up shaft racks, a turn table over the tops of and below said down shaft and up shaft racks, and including rack continuations adapted.

to be aligned with said racks in certain positions of rotations of said turn table, means for rotating said turn table, a car support frame between the racks of one of said shafts, worms mounted on said frame and engaging the racks of said shaft, means for driving said worms, a car depending from said frame, and tracks for guiding said car in its travel along said racks, said means for rotating the turn table comprising a ring gear upon the periphery of the turn table meshing with a worm adapted to be rotated.

6. A one way elevator construction, comprising a pair of opposed up shaft racks,a pair o-f opposed down shaft racks in the vicinity -of said up shaft racks, a turn table over the tops of andbelow said down shaft and up shaft racks and including rack continuations adapted to be aligned with said racks in certain positions of rotations of said turn table, means for rotating said turn table, a car support frame between the racks of one of said shafts, worms mounted on said frame and engaging the racks of said shaft, means for driving said worms, a car depending from said frame, and tracks for guiding said car in its travel along said racks, said car support frame and said car being provided with rollers engaging said tracks.

FRANCIS MILLER. 

